MIAMI, April 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Isobar Science performs
high-quality boron isotope analysis in water samples for
contaminant source tracking.
What is Contamination?
Contamination within the
environment often occurs as nutrient contamination, when
there is an excess of nutrient input into the landscape; commonly
arising from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, or even
emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Isobar Science uses high-quality boron
isotope analysis in water for contaminant source tracking.
The source type can be described as either a point source or a
nonpoint source in nature. Point sources can be directly
attributable to one influence and are relatively easy to track and
regulate. Nonpoint source pollution comes from ill-defined sources,
are difficult to regulate and usually vary spatially and temporally
(e.g. varying with season or an irregular event).
How are contamination sources
tracked?
Boron (δ11B) isotopes can provide
insights into the location and source of excess nutrients entering
the environment. Typically, δ11B is measured within the
soils and/or water of various areas within a zone of interest -
including at potential contamination source sites, natural
(unexposed) sites, and known contamination zones - allowing one to
map and track potential transportation through the landscape.
Why should contamination be tracked?
Nutrients
accumulate in soils and can remain there for years, eventually
spreading into the water system through either surface or
groundwater - seriously impacting the environment, human health,
and the economy. An oversupply of nutrients can cause harmful algal
blooms, loss of biodiversity and species shifts, and ultimately,
changes to the food web structure. Harmful algal blooms can close
beaches and other recreational areas and can limit the fishing
industry. Finally, nutrient pollution can directly impact human
health drinking water contamination, resulting in stomach and liver
issues, respiratory problems/conditions and neurological
effects.
Based on these significant impacts, it's essential to trace
where the nutrient pollution comes from and track its movement
through the environment to ensure treatment can be delivered at the
pollution source.
Contact Isobar for more details on contamination source
tracking.
About Isobar Science
Isobar Science is a subsidiary of
Beta Analytic, an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited international
carbon-14 testing laboratory. Isobar specializes in isotope
services for Geochronology, Geochemical Fingerprinting, and
Environmental Source-Tracking. Isobar is committed to high-quality
results in a timely fashion and excellent customer
support.
Learn more at www.isobarscience.com
Contact Information:
Isobar Science
info@isobarscience.com
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SOURCE Isobar Science